Unexpected knowings shatter unsuspecting plans. Indefinite containment threatened with an outsider wholly indifferent. Must be indifference, boredom. I only love, I only care. I am a keep, a stockade and wall who protects and serves, who stays and resists. I bring heavens from hells, comforts from the harshness of realities. Monster strikes out, I strike back. They will be my charges, they will be my cares.
"She's awake," a voice from the blackness of Star's sight says. It was familiar, but warmer than its mirrored counterpart.
"Star," Marco's voice fallows after as she opens her eyes slowly. The creeping purples of twilight, having filed the horizon, basks the ominous forest in the witching hour's glow. "I'm glad you're awake, you just passed out."
She groans, looking from the window to see Marco embracing pulls back, a blush on his face. "Oh, uh, sorry. It's just, I was worried about you. It's been a few hours since you passed out."
Chuckling lightly, she blushes with him. "D-don't worry about it." Moving to hang her feet off the bed, an ache runs up her body. "Ah, that smarts," she groans, clutching her left shoulder and rubbing it slowly.
"I'm not certain what triggered such a violent reaction," the other man says, his eyes looking over a thick book as he sits in an armchair, "but I saw you fall, so I only thought it right I make sure you were all right. Your body was burning up, there was a possibility that you were seriously ill." He looks up, giving a truthful, if wary, grin, "I'm glad to see that wasn't the case."
Marco looks up then back to Star, "Oh, right. This is Alexander Logos. He carried you to the nursing station and stayed to look after you."
"It's a pleasure to officially meet your acquaintance, but, now that everything seems to be in order, I'll be on my way. Hannibal wanted to speak with me over dinner." He stands to leave, looking back and giving a small smile, "I would watch yourself, though. There might be lingering issues from a fall like that. Make sure to tell the camp doctor if you experience any nausea or dizziness." Stepping out, the door closes behind him, light steps echoing back into the room as he makes his way through the wooden fort.
"I'm glad you're awake. You really had me worried, I mean, I didn't expect you to just up and pass out." He rubs the back of his head with a nervous grin, "in any case Hannibal offered a meal for us before we went out, and given the time."
Star nods, standing from her bed and making her way to her shoes by the door frame, slipping them on quickly. "Sounds like a plan." The Pair of them make their way out of the small building to the side of the main barracks and towards the mess. A few lights burned from inside, though few people were inside, most of the soldiers manning stations around the wall and within the camp.
Inside the building were rows of tables lined against each other, probably enough seats to comfortably house a hundred men for dinner. Against the far wall, a counter rested, a sign reading "kitchen" hanging above it. A few groups of soldiers sat dotted about the mess, laughing as they enjoyed a simple, but hearty, meal. In the far corner, Hannibal and Alexander sat over a slightly more complex though still a relatively simplistic meal. Alexander spoke calmly, though his face was grave and concerned, at the same time Hannibal listened intently, a look of calm consideration covering his face.
"I wonder what they're talking about," Star says as they make their way over to the counter. Behind the wooden frame was a rather bored looking young man in a small apron.
"You're the commissioned help right?" He says as he begins to dish out a meal of mashed potatoes and a bowl of soup. Chunks of meat float inside of it along with various vegetables. "Well I wish you luck, but it's a shame that the world is going to lose such a cute girl."
Star smiles, "Oh we'll be back to get another meal, you count on that." She takes her meal and starts to make her way to an end table, sitting down quietly. Her face scrunches, head resting on her hands thoughtfully.
"What's the matter Star?" He asks taking a seat across from her.
"I'm just thinking about how we're going to go about this."
Marco looks over her a bit confused, "uh, okay. I suppose we should probably ask someone exactly what hangs out in the forest and go from there." He starts to eat from his bowl slowly.
Star nods, "I think that's a good idea. I think this would be a good time to get back into practice as well. Your world has an annoying lack of martial weapons." She grins, "and I think that another change of clothes will be needed, I doubt they have leathers in our size." She starts to eat slowly at first before starting to dig in rabidly. She gives a soft hum, "I'm starving," she says in between bites.
Marco rests back into the bench and smiles as he eats at a much more reserved pace. "You've been out of it for most of the day. I would expect you to be hungry."
Their meal, however, was soon cut short as a piercing ring rends the calm air. A sharp "shit" punches after it as tables clatter as Hannibal rushes to the doorway. "Look alive and get geared," he shouts before the door slams behind him.
"What?" Marco says looking a bit alarmed.
Star reacted quickly, downing the last of her potatoes before wiping her mouth. "I suggest you drop the overcoat and get ready for a fight," she says before pulling out her wand and whispering something gently. A flash overcomes her before fading away, revealing her new outfit. She covers herself in grey plate mail, a purple five point star emblazed in the center of it. A plaited skirt hangs to her knees as her shins are protected with steel guards. A chain weave falls over leather about her arms. In her hand rests a claymore, the blood channel decorated with golden roses. The blunted guard is plated with gold to it's sides. On the hilt guard's ends rest silver five point stars, the pommel a rounded midnight purple gemstone. She hops off from the bench and rushes for the door, "pick up your feet Marco."
He looks on with amazement, "how does she even walk in that?" He stands and moves his way towards the door.
The night had just encroached onto the land, a large orange moon bathing the wide fields surrounding the fort in an eerie glow. Archer stood on the barracks walls, arrows notched and aimed to the forest's front. Hannibal stood holding his saber, directing soldier's movements throughout the fort. By his side Alexander stood, head still buried in his book.
"Archers, maintain fire at those emerging to avoid friendly fire. Ground troops are prepared to take the field and to enter a skirmish. They're just wraiths. Nothing we haven't dealt with before. This is textbook," He smiles grimly and signals for the barracks gates to be opened.
Star moved to the side of the other soldiers who were beginning to take formation. Hannibal calmly makes his way to the gate entrance, looking out as small black dots start inching from the distant forest. "Full moon is our ally," he says calmly, "gives real warning." He looks down to the little girl. "You planning on taking the field after today's incident?"
She smiles, resting her blade across her plate shoulders with impressive strength, "Hmm, I think this will be a good warm-up for the mission. It'll let me get a feel for what I'll be dealing with."
Hannibal returns a weary nod, "don't go getting yourself killed. ideally you'll provide a nice body in the forest for me to find in the morning, assuming you don't actually succeed."
"Is this the time for banter," Alexander says as he starts to take position at the head of the formation. "The wraiths will be here in only a few moments. Delaying forming rank could prove disastrous."
The old general nods, "of course, you're correct." He marches out first, leading the small division of maybe twenty men with him. The pale skinned man took position in the front next to him.
Marco soon catches up, "wow, they're really taking the field, and with their generals in the front?"
"He's bored," Star says, watching from behind. "You must have noticed that he's itching for an excuse to fight." She looks to Marco, "not that it matters much, I was kinda looking forward to something like this myself. It's a proper fight between monsters."
Marco nods, "been a while."
Star glances at him and smiles, "yeah, it has." Making her way onto the field, she takes Marco out off to the side of the main formation. "I'd ditch the jacket for now. It's just going to get in the way." She grins, watching as the dark splotches sprint across the landscape, their movements sporadic and unrestrained. They come barreling down the hillside to meet the field. As the forms come closer their form becomes more and more clear.
Hey moved like beasts, claws rending into the earth from thin legs. Their overall visage was that of a shadow, black and translucent. Their backs hunch over in a sickening way, their "heads" eyeless with a gaping maw looking fit to rend through flesh and steel.
"Archer's," Hannibal calls, "fire. Thin them out before they reach the front." He draws his blade, a smile draws across his face. Arrows fly overhead, pelting the wraiths with pointed iron. Few find their marks, lodging themselves into the heads or sides of the beasts who stumble at the impact, but continue their animalistic charge.
"Engage," the old general soon calls as the beasts come closer to the fort, the mass of soldiers taking steps to engage. The fighting breaks out savagely, pairs of soldiers take them, nimbly staying out of the reach of the beast's midnight claws. Steel blades sink into them before they are jerked out at an angle, ripping through their form. Lingering for a moment, the gashes fraying out like tin foil at the edges, the beast evaporates into a black mist, nigh invisible in the white light of the moon.
Star takes her chance, moving into the combat. Two of the hounds, arrow shafts jutting from their form, make their way to her at a rapid her blade in a defensive stance, she works to zone the beasts. Her eyes dart between the two of them, spines lifting from their backs aggressively. They make their move.
One jumps upwards, trying to pin Star down, but she manages to bring her claymore upward with a large swing, cleaving cleanly through the Wraith's form. The second takes its chance, hoping to take her off guard as she recovers from the swing. Star's muscles tighten, pulling the blade off the follow through and sending it into the soft head of shadow beast, evaporating it.
"Eyes sharp," a gruff voice says, tumbling heard from behind Star. Hannibal had tackled one of the beasts, running his blade through it before it returns to dust. "Keep sharp, these things are fast as hell. Fuckers won't think twice about ripping a hole into your neck either." He stands, readying his blade. "Work with your buddy, cover the whole battlefield. These things become chaotic fast." He wastes no time for responses and just dives back into the fray, his thin blade a glinting light throughout the battlefield as he deftly moves through the combat.
Star regains herself and scans for Marco, who is wrestling with one of the beasts. "Marco," she calls out, rushing towards him. A swift kick strikes the wraith, followed by a round flourish from her blade, knocking it out of their space and forcing any other beasts to back off. "Get up lazy bones. You're missing the action," she says, smiling down at him as she hoists the blade back into a ready stance.
Marco slowly stumbles back up, dirt and grime already covering his face and clothes. "Since when did you run around with a claymore?" he says, taking his own stance at her back, his eyes leveling with the pack of hounds that were beginning to circle around them.
"Since they were cool," she says with a playful grin. She lunges forward with a broad, upwards slash, ripping through one before her downstroke cuts through another. Her foot slides back as her blade cuts through a charging wraith, using a similar motion to a bat swing. "Plus, the extra reach seemed like a helpful trait given the situation."
Marco busily dealt with his own assailants, ducking before delivering a swift hook kick into the beast's side, sending it sprawling to the ground. Righting himself he delivers a hard punch to the next foe as it attempts to jump onto his shoulders, his fist sinking into it before the shadowy monster dissipates. "I didn't even think you knew how to use a claymore, let alone be able to use one. Isn't it heavy?"
"Not even," she says taking steps back to keep her back to Marco, covering his blindspots. "These things only weigh five pounds." She takes it into one hand, twirling it about the pomle just to prove her point. "Want something heavy, pick up a mace. Those things can be brutal." She grips back with a hand and a half, holding the blade above her head, angled downwards. She surveys the field, taking note of how many of the beasts were left. The fighting already seemed to be slowing down, the other pairs cleaning up the final one or two as she watches. She, however, has no such luck, at least, seven of the wraiths were circling about the two of them like buzzards.
"They sure seem to want to go after us," Marco says, panting a bit as he sends another to the ground with a powerful roundhouse.
"Beats me," she says before pushing her blade into one of them. She looks up just in time to see the flash of an arrow lodge itself square in one of the beast's heads, followed by another, then another. She looks up to the battlements to see Alexander, great bow outstretched as he notches another. His pale skin nearly glows as the moon rose behind him. She looks back just in time to bring up her blade defensively against a wraith, the beast impaling itself with its own lunge.
With Alexander clearing out quite a few of the hounds Marco and Star quickly clean up the rest, Star stowing her blade onto her back as the fighting clears. She looks up slowly and smiles up towards Alexander. "Come on Marco," she says as she makes her way towards the gate, "We should meet back with Hannibal before we head out for the forest."
He nods, making his way behind her. As the pair approach the gate, Alexander stands, his eyes falling inquisitively on Star, red irises burning through her. "I think I will join you on your foray into the woodlands. I am impressed by your combat prowess, it would be a waste if the planes were to lose you." He turns, "though I will have to clear this with Hannibal. Come." Walking off he makes his way to the mess.
When the Star reaches the mess soon after, greeted by the site of celebrating soldiers gathered about the tables, drinking and chattering excitedly. Hannibal, meanwhile, speaks quietly from an empty table with Alexander, a grim scowl sitting on his lips. "I hardly think it's wise for you to go," he says, the roaring crowd covering the conversation from any eavesdroppers.
"You know that you needn't worry about me. I am fully capable of handling myself."
"But," the older general starts.
"Hannibal, I appreciate the concern, but it's patronizing." He says in a soft, but firm tone. "I have something I need to investigate in the forest anyways. I haven't been able to move through the worlds as I normal do, and it's beginning to concern me. This new restlessness of the forest's denizens only heightens my suspicions."
The man's brow furrows, placing a hand solemnly over his forehead, the dim lighting giving way his aged wrinkles and highlighting his haggardness. "You think that you might have something to do with it don't you? In truth, I still find what you told me hard to believe, but if it's true I think there is no better ally to have than yourself if shit hits the fan." He sighs, "fine, go."
"I wasn't looking for permission," Alexander says softly, "merely informing a friend where I was going." He stands from the table, making his way to Star and Marco. "We ought to go now. Evil things slink away during the day times."
Marco sticks close to Star, standing a bit defensively as the odd man towers over them. "Makes sense," Star says cheerily before starting out of the hall.
"I still have to thank you for helping Star," Marco says, "but why exactly are you coming with us?"
"It'll be amusing," he says in an even tone, "besides, best to travel the forest with more people. It's a dangerous place. Be a shame if either of you were to perish within it." He starts walking, the movement blowing his robe back to reveal his plain pants and shirt, but also a rapier on his side.
The trio make their way towards the threatening woodlands, Alexander keeping some distance behind the other two, his crimson eyes gazing over the horizon as they approach their destination. Star keeps face, moving with excitement, though her eyes often glance behind her, more than idle curiosity making her weary of Alexander.
"Keep close to each other," Alexander says as the triad trek reaches the edges of the forest. "There are far worse things within this wooded grave than mere wraiths. It's a villainous grove riddled with anguishing souls so ready to pour out their own suffering. Your eyes are your ally; your allies are what make the difference between joining the ranks of this forest's rank brethren or maintaining a tenuous grasp on this mortal folly." He continues on, starting to take the lead into the forest "though don't let such descriptions deter you from continuing on. Leaving dangers be is the work of the sane."
Author's Note - Hey, I have a Tumblr! I'm advertising it so I can actually have a dialogue with people who like my work along with the fact that it might help spread out my work. The link is in my Bio on my account.